Author: wheregratitudegrows

Today I am sharing some of my favorite DIY baby and small children recipes using your Young Living essential oils! One of the main reasons I got into essential oils was the option to make my own products and cut out all the unnecessary crap I find in over-the-counter, commercial products. Not only do I hate using bad products on myself, I LOATHE using them on my child…my motherly instinct just wants the best for him.

Making your own products doesn’t have to be difficult! If you have a kitchen mixer and coconut oil, you can make anything with it!! Well, not anything… but for the most part, many of my go-to recipes (for adults & kids) are coconut oil based that I mix using my kitchen mixer. Others are simple enough to just mix by hand or by shaking the ingredients together. Super easy, and super fast. That’s my motto for these easy DIYs.

Diaper Rash Recipe:

Anyone with a baby knows at some point they are most likely to get a bad diaper rash. Whether it was because of something they ate or the flu, it happens and you want to be prepared. This recipe is a quick one but boy, does it work!

Ingredients:

½ cup coconut oil

4 drops Gentle Baby

2 drops Lavender

2 drops Roman Chamomile

1 drop Melrose

First I take the coconut oil and whip it until it’s fluffy and soft using my kitchen mixer. Then I slowly add in the essential oils, mix and store in a glass container with a lid. It’s great for bum rashes and even heat rashes. It’s very soothing on the skin.

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Baby Powder Recipe:

Everyone has those extra sweaty days, especially if you or you’re child is a heat box, so I love this safe and non-toxic substitute for commercial baby powder.Plus you get to cut out a ton of ingredients you don’t need and it’s super affordable.

Combine ratio to your desire. Sift together and store in a container with a shaker lid (like this one here)

Depending on how big your powder shaker, use this ratio for lovely smelling, sweat absorbing powder. Typically I make 4 tablespoons of Arrowroot Powder to 10 drops of Lavender (or Gentle Baby). On hot summer days, this mom even puts it between her legs to prevent leg chaffing, I am not a dress person so when I do wear them, this is a must!

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Bubble Bath Recipe:

No better way to end a busy day by taking a warm bath with homemade bubble bath. Because this recipe is sulfate free, it doesn’t bubble up as much as commercial baby products but thankfully, it is extremely moisturizing and won’t dry out your baby’s precious skin.

In a 16 oz bottle, combine castle soap, vegetable glycerin, fractionated carrier oil and essential oils of your choice. Top with water and shake vigorously. Use as needed during bath time.

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Baby Wipe Recipe:

If you love to make your own products, this is a fun one to make for your baby. Some baby’s are more sensitive than others so if you’re struggling keeping your baby’s bum rash free, this might be one to try.

Combine warm water, soap and coconut oil and set aside to cool. Cut paper towel in half to make two rolls (like toilet paper) using a sharp knife and discard cardboard insert. Save other half of the roll to make as a refill. Add essential oils to the water mixture and stir. Lavender is great for healthy skin support and Tea Tree is great to keep it from molding. Shove towels into a glass jar or container and pour mixture over the towels. Let the towels absorb the mixture for at least 15 minutes before using.

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Diffuser Recipes:

One of the best and easiest ways for small children to get the benefits of essential oils is to diffuse different recipes throughout your home! I have a diffuser in my kitchen, where I diffuse Thieves essential oil every day to support our immune systems. I also diffuse in our bedrooms at night to support a healthy sleep schedule. In my son’s room, I usually diffuse 2-4 drops of Lavender and 1 drop Thieves every night.

Here are some other great kid recipes!

Roller Ball Recipes:

If your child isn’t close to a diffuser, another way to get the benefits of essential oils is to make roller blends by diluting essential oils and applying them directly to your baby or children’s feet. For small and new baby’s, the feet is the first place you should be using essential oils because our feet are less sensitive than any other place on our body. Just remember baby recipes need to be diluted more than bigger kids, so for new babies, I would cut these ratios in half or add more carrier oil. When my son was 0-3 month, I would only use 1-2 drops of Lavender oil to a ¼ cup of coconut oil to rub on his feet before bedtime, and have slowly increased it, as he has gotten older. A few drops of Thieves and coconut oil is also great for supporting little one’s immune systems, especially when/if they start daycare.

Fun Treats:

NingXia Red is a tasty YL drink that is full of antioxidants.

1 oz is equal to eating:

93 Apples

59 Broccoli Florets

100 Oranges

10.85 lbs of Spinach

34 large Onions

55.33 lbs of Almonds

22 medium Carrots

814 Blueberries

73 medium Strawberries

Awesome, right? I give this juice most of the credit on why my 2 year old has never had the flu and has only had two runny nose’s in his life. He loves his daily serving of “juice.”

These fun recipes with NingXia Red are healthy but nummy treats that can overall help support your child’s growing body.

Non-toxic Activities:

Kids put EVERYTHING in their month, and it drives me nuts! So here is a safe play dough recipe that uses essential oils. For older children, diffuser necklaces are great to wear to school to support concentration by using essential oils that promote focus.

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This versatile oil is often referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of essential oils,” because Lavender is an adaptogen, which means that it adapts to your needs and aids your body during periods of stress and irritation. It’s most commonly used for relaxation and to support healing of the skin.

Here are a few ways I use Lavender in my house:

SEASONAL SUPPORT: This oil has been particularly helpful to me in supporting my body’s natural defense in spring and summer months. I often add two drops Lavender, 2 drops Peppermint & 2 drops of Lemon to a vegetable capsule and take daily to help my itchy eyes & running nose ease the burden of pollen. (View this post for more info on seasonal support!)

CALMING & RELAXATION: It is AMAZING for relaxation and is perfect to use before bedtime. Smelling Lavender promotes calming of the mind and body so I love to diffuse Lavender in our rooms at night or use a DIY Lavender linen spray on our bed sheets.(DIY Linen Spray Recipe)

SKIN SUPPORT: Lavender is incredible soothing on skin irritation and supports skin health. Adult acne sometimes gets the best of me, so I tend to add a little Lavender to my face moisturizer during those times of the month. I am also very clumsy so I use Lavender to sooth burns from cooking or the curling iron to take the edge off the sting or use it to sooth and clean any scraps or cuts my son or I get. I also love using Lavender lip balm to protect my lips from the sun and sooth any lip blisters I get from it. (Body Butter Recipe)

HEALTHY HAIR: By adding 1 drop of Lavender to your mascara you can promote healthy eyelashes. I also love to add an extra drop or two to my shampoo! (Dry Shampoo Recipe or Repunzel Spray)

COOKING & DRINKING: Lavender Vitality Oil is fun to add to sugar cookies or icing and gives the flavor that “something special” taste! I also enjoy making Lavender Lemonade for a festive summertime drink. (Lavender Lemonade Recipe)

This is the number one essential oil I could NOT live without. If you have not tried Young Living’s Lavender essential oil and have been using other brands of lavender oil, you will be blown away from the difference. First you will notice that the smell is different and then you’ll quickly see the therapeutic benefits that you will receive from this oil. Please visit www.jennatotten.com for more essential oil information.

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I love walking into a house and instantly smelling something fresh and clean but unfortunately, many store-bought sprays are filled with toxins, artificial scents and typically only cover up smells for a short period of time. While we love our indoor dog, our house can sometimes smell like a dog so by making our own home deodorizer spray I know exactly what is in the bottle and know it’s safe for everyone in our family. Plus its super inexpensive!

By using essential oils, you are also getting therapeutic benefits while you spray and they support killing odor causing bacteria instead of simply masking bad smells.

Homemade Deodorizer Spray:

16 oz Glass Bottle

1 part Witch Hazel or Vodka

3 parts Distilled Water

20 drops Purification

Directions: Combine ingredients, shake well and spray! Remember to shake before each use. I use a bigger spray bottle because I use this one everything so if you want to make a bigger or smaller, adjust ratios accordingly.

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With the summer sunshine ramping up, I thought I would share a homemade sunblock recipe. Since most store-bought sunscreens (regular kinds & organic kinds) contain unpleasant ingredients, the research and debate on store-bought vs. homemade can be overwhelming!

Conventional sunscreens are packed full of toxins or endocrine disrupting chemicals that can promote skin cancer growth and free radical production in the body. Sound appealing, right? The sunscreen alters your skin to make it sun-resistant. Even when the “waterproof” creams rinse off, while your swimming or sweating, you’re still protected from the sun because of the chemicals absorbed in your skin. For more safety information on the sunscreen you are currently using, click HERE.

On the other hand, most homemade sunblock contains Zinc Oxide, which also can be controversial. From what I am learning, Zinc Oxide must be a certain size for it not to absorb into the skin and enter into the bloodstream. You don’t want Zinc Oxide to enter your bloodstream or get into your lungs because that too, can be bad for you. Zinc Oxide is a great sunBLOCKER if used properly. Sunblock also has a lower SPF so you’ll need to reapply more often and sometimes can leave your skin white or lighter. Can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who you’re applying it too. For small (BUSY) children, it’s nice to see where you are putting it!

I will let you do your research here and let you decide what it best for your family and I will get you TWO different recipes, one that contains Zinc Oxide, one that does not.

Some ingredients with natural SPF:

Coconut Oil SPF: 4-6

Almond Oil SPF: ~5

Zinc Oxide SPF: 2-20 depending on much you add into your mix

Red Raspberry Seed Oil SPF: 35-40

Shea Butter SPF: 4-6

Homemade Sunblock:

2 oz Coconut Oil (contains natural SPF properties)

2 oz Shea Butter (naturally protects skin)

2 oz Beeswax (The wax helps make it waterproof! More beeswax=thicker, less beeswax=smoother)

1 Tbsp Zinc Oxide (Make sure you DO NOT breathe this in! I recommend wearing a mask if necessary! If you add more Zinc Oxide, the SPF will be stronger and vise-versa. You can purchase it HERE or HERE just make sure its NON-NANO)

Directions: Using the double boiler method, combine coconut oil, shea butter & beeswax until melted. Remove from heat and whisk in zinc oxide powder. Once smooth with no clumps, add Young Living essential oils (and red raspberry seed oil/vitamin E if necessary). Quickly pour mixture into reusable squeeze tubes or a glass jar. Apply often and liberally to exposed skin. Reapply every 3-4 hours, or more if swimming or sweating.

Homemade Sunblock (Zinc Oxide Free):

¼ cup Coconut Oil

20 drops Carrot Seed

15 drops Myrrh

10 drops Lavender

Directions:Combine all ingredients and mix with a hand blender. Store in a glass jar and apply liberally and often.

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Some days when I’m running on fumes & have restless legs, I need an extra boost of relaxation at bedtime. I enjoy using my diffuser throughout the evening & at bedtime but sometimes I just need something to sniff! This recipe is great to spray on your bed sheets, pillows & pajamas right as you’re crawling into bed. It promotes relaxation & restful sleep. Because I make mine in a small bottle, it’s convenient to pack along when traveling or spending the night at someone else’s house. If you’re like me, I never sleep great in someone else’s house or hotel, so I’ve found my oils to help calm me down.

Sleep Spray Recipe:

15 drops Lavender

15 drops Cedarwood

15 drops Vetiver

1 ½ tablespoons of Witch Hazel (or vodka)

Distilled Water

Directions:Add essential oils & witch hazel to a 4oz glass spray bottle. Top off with distilled water. Shake well before use. Spray on bedding (sheets, pillows, ect.) before going to bed.

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It’s been 2 ½ weeks since I switched over to my all-natural, homemade deodorant and let me tell you, the first week was hard! I felt so stinky. I was constantly re-applying it, along with an extra drop of tea tree oil to help mask the smell. Thankfully my husband was out of town on business so he didn’t have to smell me too. After the first week though, it did get a whole lot better! I knew the first few weeks were going to be rough so I am glad I stuck it out for the long haul. The past few days, I have been feeling great about switching over to a healthier product (AND less smellier by the day!!!!) until last night I developed a rash and very sore armpits. After doing more research, I learned about the rash baking soda can cause. Because it’s a very alkaline substance, it can throw your pH balance out of whack… EK! This can cause a rash, soreness & irritation. It’s also important to wait 30 minutes or so after you have shaved your armpits to apply deodorant (of any kind) so you don’t irritate your hair follicles. Obviously, my pits were not happy!

For most people, baking soda rarely affects them but for me, it’s super painful! I’ve noticed that my skin has gotten more and more sensitive with (potentially harmful ingredients) store-bought products since I switch to more all-natural products (mostly Young Living’s soaps/lotions/shampoo/ect.) when I was pregnant. There was even a point in my pregnancy my belly was so itchy, I desperately ran out to the store and bought some type of “pregnant-body-butter-stretch-mark-itch-cream,” in my last ditch effort to stop the itch and I broke out in a rash head to toe. I really kicked myself for that one and now I’m kicking myself today. My armpits hurt!!! (Sorry for the whining)

So today I made a new deodorant that is baking soda free that should stop the rash. I also mixed up an armpit detox to apply to help soothe the rash and my poor lymph nodes. This also helps re-balance the pH in your armpits.

Armpit Detox Recipe: 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 cup of distilled water (I just put some on toilet paper & swiped it in my armpits) You may want to do this twice a day until your pits feel better.

Baking soda FREE recipe for All-Natural Deodorant:

½ c. Arrowroot Powder

½ c. Coconut Oil

1 tbs. Beeswax

½ tsp. Vitamin E

20 drops Tea Tree

10 drops Frankincense

10 drops Purification

(You can pick other essential oils if you would like, I recommend anywhere from 20-40 drops per batch)

Directions: Mix beeswax & coconut oil over a double boiler. Stir until beeswax is melted and then quickly add remaining ingredients. Stir quickly and pour into an empty deodorant stick or glass jar.

This is very similar to the last deodorant recipe I posted. To read it, {click here}

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This recipe seriously makes me laugh and I wish I had it a long time ago. No one wants to smell a stinky bathroom after someone has went number two, especially when the bathroom is right off the kitchen or connected to a bedroom you have to share with someone else so this Poo-Poo-Po-Pourii is great for those not–so-great located bathrooms, public bathrooms, work bathrooms… you name it!

For this recipe you’ll need:

20 drops Lemongrass

20 drops Bergamot

20 drops Grapefruit

2 tbsp. Witch Hazel (you could sub this for rubbing alcohol or vodka)

4 oz Glass Spray Bottle

Distilled Water

Directions: Add essential oils and witch hazel to spray bottle. Top off with distilled water and shake well. To use, shake and spray in toilet BEFORE you go to the bathroom. The trick to this operation is to spray the toilet water before you go, not after! The mixture should help stop the stink before it hits the air!

Another toilet tip: For those who hate public bathrooms/hotel bathrooms, bring Thieves Spray with you! Spray the toilet, toilet handle, sink, tabletops, door handles, ect. Thieves wipes are also great when you’re on the go! Two words: Grocery. Carts. (umm, ick!)

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I dare you to Google, “toxicity of deodorant,” you’ll be shocked on how many harmful ingredients are packed in such a little tube. I know, no one likes to be smelly but why do they have to put things like aluminum, parabens & pesticides in something that most people use daily. It seriously boggles my mind!

I’ve tried many different all-natural brands and stones but nothing has seemed to work for me so I’m super excited for this recipe. I’ve heard it takes about two weeks to detoxify your armpits when you switch to an all-natural product. It’s a transition period that you just have to wait out. Honestly, it’s hard! So for the sake of others, try not to be around a lot of people if you fear you’ll be stinky! Don’t worry, it’s actually good to sweat. Our armpits help get rid of toxins in our bodies and for most, you’ll actually stink less once your body has become accustom to it. It’s also a great idea to detox your armpits, just like you would any other parts of your body. Google it, there’s tons of recipes!

Today I made my own natural deodorant and I’m already surprised how great it is. I know people who simple just use coconut oil or use an essential oil (such as Frankincense, Tea Tree, Rosemary or Purification) as their deodorant but I wanted something that was a little “stronger” than that. Maybe one day I’ll simply be down to one oil but because this recipe was super fast and easy to make, I’ll be using it for a while.

Empty deodorant container or you can purchase some new ones (here) OR you can use a glass jar and apply it with your hands.

Directions: Melt beeswax and coconut oil together in a double boiler. I just use a glass bowl over a small pot of water and heat to a slow boil. Stir until the beeswax is melted.

Remove bowl from heat and add dry ingredients, vitamin E and essential oils. Obviously you can pick different essential oils than what I used but I recommend at least one of them be Tea Tree to help keep you smelling fresh. Stir until it’s all blended together. You’ll want to work fast and get it poured into the stick before the beeswax and coconut oil cools to room temperature. It cools fast!Let cool and solidify for a few hours before you use. This stick should last you for about two months.

Disclaimer:I’m a huge advocate for doing your own research and making your own wise decisions when it comes to what you put on your body, so please Google it and don’t take my word for everything. Or do, I guess that’s cool too.

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Epsom Salts, another wonder used for centuries to help support health and soothe the soul. Epsom salts are a pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate, which many of us lack. It’s no wonder why many people have problems with inflammation, muscle and nerve functions, skin problems & large amounts of toxins in our cells. Our body’s skin is the largest and most porous organ, so this is why it’s so important to know what we are putting ON our bodies, just as it’s important to know what we are eating and putting IN our bodies. Epsom salts are another great way to use essential oils as well. By adding a few drops of essential oils to Epsom salts, you can help support even more organs in your body! We love to use Epsom salts to relax, support our immune systems, get rid of stinky odors (such as smelly feet!), exfoliate dead skin and also use as a plant fertilizer. I also love Epsom salts because they allow me to use every last drop of essential oils in an almost-empty bottle. To make it simple, I leave a jar full of Epsom salts next to the bathtub and throw in my empty oil bottles, shake it up and let the salts soak up the oils. Before a bath, I just throw a bottle full of Epsom salts in the tub with a scoop of salts and voila! You have a relaxing bath full of health benefits. I like to keep one next to Jase’s tub that is full of empty Lavender bottles, Peace & Calming and Thieves. I like to give him extra relaxation & immune support before bedtime too!

The next time you’re feeling a little down and out, I challenge you to take a nice Epsom salt bath. The trick to getting the most support from Epsom salts, it to at least take a 12 minute bath which shouldn’t be to hard, unless you have small children and then I totally understand. The salt alone should help relieve tension, pain & cramps, eliminate toxins and help nerves function properly. Don’t forget to add your essential oils too! My favorites are Lavender (for relaxing), Thieves (for immune support), Frankincense (for skin support), Peace & Calming or StressAway (both for calming & stress relief!) & Clary Sage (hormonal support).

The jar I keep next to Jase’s tub:

Mothers: I am wishing you a relaxing month of May, because it is “Mother’s Month” and us women deserve it and I hope you fathers treat your wife to some peaceful alone time too…kidding, but not kidding!

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Over the past two years I slowly have been changing out chemical filled products for all natural substitutes and slowly my beauty routines have changed as well. My shampoo, conditioner and face wash was converted a while ago and now I have been focusing on my beauty products. Every few months or so, I use to buy expensive dry shampoo (because using the cheap kinds made my hair greaser than it already was) and I felt like I only get a few good sprays out of it until it was gone. I didn’t even realize that my favorite kind of dry shampoo was actually making my hair dryer and leaving my scalp flaky…ummm YUCK! I hate washing my hair every day (also not great for your hair/scalp!) so I knew dry shampoo was a “must have” in my bathroom cabinet but now I don’t need to buy the expensive kinds anymore. I love to say, if it’s possible, “chemical free, is the way to be” so now I make my own and am loving it. It’s so easy to mix and apply too!

Directions: Put arrowroot powder in a glass mixing bowl, add essential oils and stir. Mix together and then slowly put into glass container to store. Apply by taking a make-up brush (I used an old clean one that I don’t use anymore) and dipping the ends into the powder and then applying the mixture to your roots. I keep applying until my hair doesn’t appear greasy anymore and than take a brush to my entire head to even it out.

If you have dark hair, I suggest adding 1-2 tsps. of organic cocoa powder to make the mixture a light brown. It tends to be a little easier to blend the powder into your hair if it’s on the darker side.

If you don’t have an old make-up brush & jar to put it in consider using a salt/pepper shaker, a reusable parmesan shaker or some type of powder shaker you can find on Amazon like this one: (click here)

I used this combination of essential oils because they all promote hair growth & a healthy scalp. They also smell awesome when they’re combined! I also choose to use arrowroot powder over cornstarch because most cornstarch is GMO, just a FYI.

Here’s to healthy hair, throwing out/buying less, one product at a time!!!